TV GARDENER and columnist Alys Fowler will be appearing at next year's Arts and Crafts Garden Festival at Coombe Trenchard.

Following its launch event in 2011, the festival is set to grow in size and stature and will take place on the Jubilee Weekend (June 1 and 2) with a 'Best of British' theme.

Gardens Illustrated magazine will be joining the festival as a key sponsor and there will be a range of garden talks headlined by Alys.

There will be a host of plant nurseries and designers invited to exhibit their skills and collectively to celebrate the Coombe Trenchard 'Arts and Crafts' resurgence.

Within the Edwardian estate Plant Heritage National Collections will sit beside fresh new nurseries such as Toby Buckland — last year's headliner and former Gardeners' World presenter.

There will be an array of show gardens, restoration and history tours and 'Art in the Garden' exhibits will also be added for the second festival.

Organiser of the event Sarah Marsh said: 'We have been thrilled by the response to the inaugural event in 2011 and the interest in next year's festival has been tremendous.

'We are determined that we continue to create a unique and "Simply English" celebration of the gardening tradition, whilst bringing alive the ethos and values of the arts and crafts era, which we are passionate about.'

Alys Fowler said: 'Having heard so much about the first garden festival at Coombe Trenchard, I was excited to be invited and get involved.

'I am a great admirer of the Arts and Crafts era and I am very much looking forward to experiencing the Walter Sarel-designed gardens and seeing the restoration work that the Marsh family have been doing on the estate.

'With the Jubilee celebrations, coupled with a fantastic "Best of British" theme, I'm sure we will all have a brilliant time in the beautiful Devon countryside.'